The only real answer is for the NBA to start dropping fines and suspensions on repeat offenders after the game (3 strike system). Game's too fast for refs to catch them like they do in soccer.
I saw that last night. That was funny because it's against the Lakers and Barnes. Actually it could have handed the win to Denver, and it would have been funnier. Anyway, it wasn't as bad as Bosh's flop against Boozer. Fernandez at least got the timing right and looked legit.
To be fair, the elbow wasn't swung very high. It wouldn't have hit the face even if it connected. It was at the chest level. Fernandez acted like his head got hit. But it could also be a natural reflex. Barnes did swing hard. So he has nobody to blame but himself.
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Barnes probably forgot to apply some deodorant during his pregame. Rudy was just letting the referees know that through acting and facial gestures. Bravo!!! On a side note though, at least he didn't fall to the ground and act like he was tragically injured, See Chris Paul or DWade.
He flings his head back for sure, and the reaction is probably exaggerated. But I would say the swing was enough to warrant a reflex, he probably sold the call, but Barnes swinging his elbow to clear space in that scenario should have been an offensive foul in any case.
I think Barnes is a douchebag and wouldn't mind if he was beat up badly. That's how much disdain I have for him. And even with my perspective, he got wronged by the refs and by Fernandez there. I understand the argument that you can't swing high, but he didn't swing high at all. Look at the damn replay; it was a terrible call. That elbow wasn't close to hitting Fernandez' head level and he acted like he took a head shot. The second motion with the ball high even got a second head motion from Fernandez. That second motion was even worse from Rudy...how is that defensible? This is a reaction of someone surprised on the streets by a stranger jumping at him, not an NBA player defending the ball handler.
Don't like Barnes one bit. Yet, it's hard to argue with the replay. Clowns like Fernandez should be fined every single time they do this ****. Weakens a great product.
But there's two elbows to consider...the first one was low, but if you look at the second one, it was higher. If you mimic that motion (swinging higher with the second elbow) then it's like going at his face. Barnes should have kept both down and swung through straight across.
There is a difference between avoiding an elbow and reacting like you got hit by the elbow. Rudy Fernandez clearly reacted like he got hit by an elbow. Barnes elbow wasn't even at his face when he reacted like that it was actually the basketball that was in his face.
Has anyone noticed that 9/10 times the "flopper" is a player that came over from europe? They're influenced by soccer flops and somewhere along the way decide that if it's acceptable in soccer then it must be acceptable in the NBA. This has to stop. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2FG1WAry08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEef1T_lqwA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtB-ME6C6AY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8AxHxULLek
Weren't Rockets fans always complaining about Karl Malone doing the SAME THING and calling him a dirty player?
He did exaggerate but he was pretty damn close to hitting him anyways, in real time and with a player like barnes you don't know what his intention is
1. The basketball gets closer to hitting Fernandez than the elbows. Why are people talking about elbows and ignoring the basketball? 2. I don't think it was terribly bad as a flop because Fernandez didn't fall on the floor and act like he was being electrocuted. He did a little acting and kept playing defense. 3. Barnes was kinda asking for it by swinging his elbows like that in the first place. He's just giving the refs an excuse to blow the whistle. He didn't foul anybody so it isn't his fault, but avoiding the appearance of impropriety would have been wise. 4. In sum, yeah it was a flop, but given the universe of flops in the NBA, this is very tame.
